Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) has secured a $300 million loan from Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), marking its first commercial market borrowing since 2021. The finance pact, disclosed through an exchange filing, represents a renewed push by the company to tap global funding avenues as it prepares for a broader developmental role under its IRFC 2.0 vision.

The five-year facility is benchmarked to the Tokyo Overnight Average Rate (TONAR), aligning the borrowing structure with Japan’s key interest rate indicator. IRFC, a Navratna public sector enterprise, said the move is aimed at lowering its overall borrowing costs while reinstating its presence in the global External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) market.

“By tapping the External Commercial Borrowing market after more than 3 years, we are not only intending to reduce our weighted average borrowing cost but also reviving our presence in the international market, which shall play a crucial role in further strengthening of the railway infrastructure that is vital for nation building,” said Manoj Kumar Dubey, Chairman, Managing Director and CEO, IRFC.

The loan comes at a strategic time as IRFC prepares to diversify beyond its traditional financing of Indian Railways. Under the IRFC 2.0 plan, the company aims to support metro rail networks, renewable energy projects with railway linkage, and dedicated freight corridor segments, alongside its core railway financing operations.

According to the company, the proceeds will be channelled into projects with forward or backward linkages to the railway sector or other approved initiatives that comply with ECB guidelines. Dubey added that IRFC’s priority remains mobilising capital through competitive sources to strengthen projects closely integrated with Indian Railways and to ensure long-term value creation.

The SMBC-backed loan is expected to provide a significant boost as IRFC steps into its expanded infrastructure financing mandate.

News source: Financial Express.